Highlight News

Australia's Mark Webber has jumped back into the lead of the Formula One World Championship, but it was Ferrari's Fernando Alonso who stole the headlines at the Italian Grand Prix.

The Spaniard drove a brilliant race to take Ferrari's first win at Monza for four years, hunting down reigning world champion Jenson Button to take the chequered flag.

Alonso started on the softer compound Bridgestone Potenza tyres before pitting for the harder rubber late in the race. It was quick work by his Ferrari pit crew that enabled Alonso to grab the lead, with Button taking second ahead of the other Ferrari of Felipe Massa.

"Being on the podium was an incredible feeling: what a sea of people, so many flags!" Alonso said.

"I was stunned by the emotion from the fans, right from the first moment they got here on Thursday. I wish to dedicate this victory to them and to the passion that characterises all Ferrari fans."

The Italian event was the final European race on the 2010 calendar.

"Congratulations to Ferrari and Fernando Alonso for a great win. This is a great result for the championship in the final Grand Prix in Europe for Bridgestone," said Hiroshi Yasukawa, Director of Bridgestone Motorsport.

"I would like to thank all the Italian fans and the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza for so many great times for us over the years at this fantastic motorsport venue."

Webber could only finish the race in sixth place, but he retook the lead in the World Championship as McLaren's Lewis Hamilton was forced out on the opening lap after colliding with Massa.

The next race is the Singapore Grand Prix on September 26th.

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

1.

Mark Webber (Aust)

Red Bull

187 points

2.

Lewis Hamilton (GB)

McLaren

182

3.

Fernando Alonso (Sp)

Ferrari

166

4.

Jenson Button (GB)

McLaren

165

TOP TEN FOR TANDER

Garth Tander enjoyed a strong weekend in the Bridgestone-backed Holden Racing Team Commodore at Phillip Island with a top-ten finish in the 500-kilometre V8 Supercars endurance event.

Driving with Cameron McConville, Tander brought his car home in ninth place after 113 laps and more than three hours of racing.

Overall honours went to the Team Vodafone pairing of Craig Lowndes and Mark Skaife. However, it wasn't a good weekend for teammate and defending V8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup who was hit by mechanical problems while leading the race with just 17 laps to go.

The duo eventually finished 29th. Whincup started the weekend 120 points behind Jim Beam Racing's James Courtney in the 2010 title chase, but leaves the Phillip Island circuit 179 points behind with just five events remaining on the calendar.